ARABIC LANGUAGE 1 MOD.1

The Arabic language module 1.1 is one of the courses characterizing the Master’s Degree Programme in Languages, economics and institutions of Asia and North Africa. It aims to provide students with intermediate-advanced language tools and skills.
The goal is to make them possible to apply their language skills and abilities in communicative situations and in reading texts that require knowledge of sectorial languages related to the fields of society and law. They will thus be able to make their linguistic competence a key tool to understand and interpret the modernity of the Arab countries in its various aspects.

To achieve a level of language proficiency equivalent to the intermediate level of the CEFR (Common European framework of reference for language proficiency). In particular:
1. Knowledge and understanding
• Know the key sentences necessary to interact in communication contexts that require knowledge of sectorial languages related to the fields of society, politics and economics.
• Have a solid knowledge of the grammatical system of standard Arabic.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
• Be able to correctly use the key sentences necessary to interact in communication contexts that require knowledge of sectorial languages related to the fields of society, politics and economics.
• Be able to understand written texts on socio-political topics.
• Be able to translate correctly sentences including intermediate to complex grammatical structures from Arabic into Italian.
3. Judgment capacity
• Be able to assess the level of one’s language knowledge, skills and abilities.
4. Communication skills
• Be able to communicate the specificities of linguistic and textual analysis using appropriate terminology.
5. Learning skills
• Know how to relate the different contexts of study and apply your knowledge and skills for personal and professional growth.

Intermediate knowledge and skills in Modern Standard Arabic, as learned and internalized during the concerned Graduate Program. In particular, vocabulary and structures as occurring in Deheuvels, Grammatica Araba, as well as in Al-Warraki, The Connectors in MSA. Appropriate knowledge of English.

A closed set of the most common and standardized morpho-syntactic and lexical traits of Modern Standard Arabic as used in mass-media and press. Students are required to learn mnemonically such morpho-syntactic and lexical traits as found in context and to arrange the contents of selected texts in a discourse.

Selected articles from Arab newspapers and magazines,

moreover:

Lahlali, M. (2011). How to Write in Arabic, Cairo, AUC Press.

Recommended texts:
Kendall, E. (2005). Media Arabic: An Essential Vocabulary, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press
Sirhan, N. (2018). Mastering Arabic Vocabulary for Intermediate to Advanced Learners of Modern Standard Arabic, Routledge, London and New York.

Reference works:
Badawi, E., Carter M. G., Gully A. (2004). Modern Written Arabic: A Comprehensive Grammar, London, Routledge.

Dictionaries:
Traini, R. (1965-1973). Vocabolario arabo-italiano, IPO, Roma
Wehr, H. Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, 4th ed.

E-learning:
Students are invited to enroll in the Quizlet.com virtual class “Lingua Araba 1.1 – LM005C” (https://quizlet.com/join/Na7ARwCJe ) in order to practice and memorize the vocabulary studied in class.

Useful resources and sites:
Aljazeera Learning Arabic http://learning.aljazeera.net/en || Aswaat arabiyya https://www.laits.utexas.edu/aswaat/index.php || Mumkin.es: http://mumkin.es/ || Advanced Standard Arabic Online https://www.wmich.edu/languages/arabic-online || Dictionaries and glossaries: Almaany: http://www.almaany.com .

Program for non-attendants or those who attend remotely
Students who participate in at least 70% of face-to-face lessons (10 out of 15) are considered "frequentanti" (attending). Those students who do not attend the course or attend it remotely are required to bring a separate supplementary program, in addition to the exam program specified above. The additional program consists of a reading text assigned by the teacher. The student will have to read the text and then write a short paper containing the translation of the text agreed upon, together with a written comment on the morphosyntactic structures of the text. The paper must be delivered at least one week before the oral exam.

Written Exam (duration: 3hs.): Text translation from Modern Standard Arabic to Italian, or English. The use of Modern Standard Arabic dictionary is allowed.
Oral Exam: Conversation in Modern Standard Arabic based on lexicon and structures, as available in the course didactic materials, as well as on Kendall's and Sirhan’s glossaries mentioned in the course bibliography

For non-attending students or those attending remotely: the same examination method as for “frequentanti” (attending students); in addition, delivery of the paper at least one week before the oral exam.

The teaching method develops the language skills all-round through the use of both multimedia tools and those usually accepted in the teaching of foreign languages. It alternates inductive activities with deductive ones and various exercises duly contextualized within the framework of a didactic unit (globality, analysis, synthesis, reflection, control).
Teaching is organized in:
a) lectures;
b) exercises

Italian

Class also held in Modern Standard Arabic.

written and oral